Which Amino Acids are Best to Boost Human Growth Hormone Release and How to Take Them?

Some Amino Acids are Known as Good Human Growth Hormone Releasers – How to Take Advantage of Them?

Aromatic amino acids are used in sports medicine as a substratum for replenishing the protein pool, as well as for stimulating the release of growth hormone.

Liquid amino-acids are now widely used to solve this problem. However, one should keep in mind that amino acids are rather unstable during storage, especially in light and in the presence of air. Consequently, these products have a short shelf life even in warehousing conditions.

A rather unpleasant property of amino acids is their ability to racemize.

Amino Acids Racemization

Pure solutions of natural amino acids rotate the plane of polarized light to the left (only glycine is optically inactive). In solution, especially when the pH is shifted to the alkaline side, some of the molecules pass into dextrorotatory isomers.

The final solution no longer rotates the light, it becomes racemised, a mixture of the right and left forms. The dextrorotatory isomers of amino acids are found in nature, but do not form part of the proteins from which live tissues are built.

Moreover, some of them interfere with protein synthesis, since enzymes that connect amino acid molecules to peptide chains “stumble” on them. Therefore, taking the racemic aminos leads not only to a lack of the desired amount of “building material” for the muscles, but also to prevent the assimilation of the useful part of the substance.

Thus, if the conditions of production and storage of liquid amino acids are not properly maintained, the product after a while loses its useful qualities.

Amino acids to Stimulate the Release of Growth Hormone

According to F.C. Hatfield, 3-4-dehydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa), as well as 5-hydroxytryptophan, are powerful stimulators of growth hormone release. However, arginine, histidine, lysine, cysteine, tryptophan and ornithine are less harmful in terms of side effects. The author recommends the use of serine and alanine for increasing blood sugar levels before competition or training, as well as for the elimination of hypoglycemia.

Mac Molicca lists the rules for taking left isomers of tryptophan, arginine, tyrosine and ornithine, since these amino acids can compete for utilization.

First, the author notes, they should not be taken together with sweets (sugar causes an insulin reaction blocking the release of growth hormone).

Tyrosine is best taken either in the early morning, or an hour before training in a dose of not more than 1 g, apart from tryptophan.

Tryptophan is most effective when it is applied before going to bed on an empty stomach in a dose of 1-2 g. The most potent release of growth hormone is observed when taking tryptophan with vitamin B6 and in combination with arginine and ornithine. The dose of the latter is 1-3 g, the ratio is – 2: 1, the best time to take is one hour before training or before bedtime (although, according to F.C. Hatfield, arginine and ornithine should not be taken more than 1.2 g / day).

When using other amino acids, keep in mind that tryptophan does not combine with phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine and valine, and arginine and ornithine are incompatible with lysine.

Norman Lale is pointing to the role of arginine and ornithine in stimulating the release of growth hormone, emphasizes that somatotropin is released only with a combination of proper diet (alcohol, fats and sugar suppresses the release of growth hormone) with exercises of maximum intensity.

The author also draws attention to the fact that a significant release of growth hormone contributes to the addition of zinc supplements. To start the amino acid stimulation, he suggests using 1.2 g of lysine, 1.2 g of arginine and 0.9 g of ornithine on an empty stomach, immediately after training or at bedtime (according to Mac Molicca, arginine and ornithine are incompatible with lysine) . In this case, the body should be provided with nutrients for building muscle mass.

According to Richard Pardel, the growth hormone can not be synthesized if there is a deficiency in taurine, an amino acid that is contained only in products of animal origin. Its deficiency leads to a disruption of the binding of vitamin E to lipoproteins and causes muscular dystrophy.

Chomas Deters and Lee Labrada point to the results of studies at the University of Tokyo (1980), according to which 4 grams of glycine at night cause a significant increase in the level of growth hormone in the blood.

The conclusions are drawn: the best releasers of growth hormone are glycine, arginine and ornithine, taken on an empty stomach for the night (not in combination with dairy products and sugar). Potential releasers of growth hormone during the daytime are arginine, ornithine, tyrosine in combination with vitamins B6 and C on an empty stomach.

According to F.C. Hatfield, the effect of amino acids is seen in 3-12 weeks after the beginning of taking.

L-Arginine

L-arginine is recognized as a “conditionally essential” amino acid. Its role in regulation of immune system and protein metabolism has recently become a matter of strong interest.

The transformation into ornithine explains the importance of arginine in the formation of polyamines – the key molecules involved in the growth and differentiation of cells. In addition, L-arginine is an important substrate for the formation of nitric oxide under the action of arginine deaminase.

The significant role of arginine in nitrogen retention in cases of hunger or stress has been revealed. In addition to optimizing the nitrogen balance, it is also known for its protective properties against intoxication with ammonia.

Arginine stimulates the secretion of many substances, for example: growth hormone, insulin, glucagon, somatostatin. However, this effect on secretion is mainly observed when it is administered intravenously in its pure form.

In most studies, it has been shown that arginine is a potent immunomodulator and can be used in catabolism.

The most commonly used enteral mixtures (with the exception of “IMPACT Novartis” and “Stresson Nutricia”) contain only a small amount of arginine. However, until the impact of arginine on the human body is fully understood, adding to the enteral formula of its unjustifiably large quantities is associated with a certain risk.